Shorty by Bruce Drake

Author:Bruce Drake [Drake, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781452070889
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2012-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

The Split Up

The wagon train was moving slowly across the Great Western Prairie. We were making in the neighborhood of elevan miles a day. July was close at hand and we were getting a ways up the trail. Most of our people didn’t think that ten or elevan miles a day on the open prairie was near enough. We hadn’t seen any Indians and a few talked about heading out on their own and Leaving us behind. This way they figured to make a lot better time.

One morning several wagons split off from our group and headed west by themselves. Sorry to say the people we’d became closest to were part of those that decided to strike out on their own. We wished them luck and asked them to write. Billie Jo and Nancy Morton cried and hugged and cried some more. We were going to miss her and her family. In my heart I wished them the very best. My mouth was as dry as dust as we said our good-byes and give them all big hugs.

Danny said “Don’t you forget, I’ll be back and we will run cows together. I know about where you plan on settling so you better be a lookin for me, okay.”

“You got it Danny. When you get here we will get you started. Good-bye Dan. You mind your folks now and we’ll see ya.”

He smiled and said “Good-bye Mr. Shorty.”

“What do you mean Shorty? I’m taller then you are.”

“I’m getting ready for when I return I’ll be taller then.” We both laughed.

The sun was coming up over the hilltops to the east as Brent, Harley, Slim and his family, along with Billie Jo and I stood and watch them until they were a good ways off. On a far off hill Nancy Morton, her brother’s wife Susan Marble and her boy Danny turned and waved one last time then turned and disappeared over a hill.

This ole tender hearted boy had a big ole lump in his throat as we watched then disappear. Billie was in a melancholy mood as we talked about our friends and the fact that we would prob’ly never see then again.

A week later as we pushed our livestock up the trail we met five mountain men coming down river headed for Fort Leavenworth they told of several battles in the month of May over in Colorado and Kansas.

They told of a Lieutenant over there that killed a chief called Lean Bear in a struggle with the Cheyenne. “Gentlemen the army almost lost their whole unit; the alarm went out quickly by telegraph to alert the military throughout the west.

No one came to lend them a helping hand because they didn’t have enough troops to send. Things were getting bad for everyone in that area.” These mountain men didn’t think it was wise to go any further west just now with the Indians raising their hackles.

“Folks, Brigadier General Robert B. Mitchell arrived out here back in April and got the Cheyenne and Sioux to talk.

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